Respiration-indicator.



1,299,306. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

B. DE BERNYZ.

RESPIRATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 19:2.

j; 5 a; v 52 "H"? j F '5 g 1 4? INVENTOR Q4 A431 ATTORNW BEBTRAND DE BERNYZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RESPIRATION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed June 15, 1918. Serial No. 240,187.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERTRAND on BERNYZ,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Respiration-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in respiration indicators, that is to say to anapparatus designed to show proper or possible faulty inspiration and expiration of air into and from the lungs, thereby aiding in correcting the act of breathing.

In respiration, it is essential that each time a long breath of air be drawn, so that not only the upper part of the lungs, but both lungs be fully filled with air. Each time a person draws breath, among other things, the diaphragm contracts, allowing the lungs plenty of room to expand. During expiration the diaphragm relaxes and rises in the form of a dome. Outwardly this contracting and relaxing of the diaphragm is recognizable by the expansion and contractiontof the abdomen. If during inspiration the ab domen does not expand and during expiration the abdomen does not contract, the res piration is faulty. 'A sure sign of faulty breathing is the fact that the personraises the "shoulders during inspiration. When singing, many persons raise their heads. The raising of the head is particularly objectionable "when singing or speaking, by reason of the factthat neither the nose cavity nor the mouth cavity can form a resonancebody when the head is being raised.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for indicating and measuring the expansion and contraction of the abdomen during inspiration and expiration, respectively, and also for indicating, for instance by visible signals, the fact that the headis raised during forced and trying singing and speaking exercises.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made inthe size and proportion of theseveral parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accomp'anying drawings, in which Figure 1is a sideelevation, partly in section, of an apparatus constructed in accord ance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a graduated scale and hand cooperating therewith of the apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 14 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a base, for instance in the form of a plate, upon which the person whose respiration is to be tested is adapted to stand. From this base rises a fixed post or standard 11, preferably of quadrangular cross-section and of a height that exceeds that of a normal person. In the upper face of the base is formed a quadrangular recess 12, in which is slidably disposed a block 13, adapted to move toward and away from the post 11. To this block is fixedly attached an upwardly extending post 14, also preferably of quadrangular cross-section and of a height sub stantially less than that of the post 11. To cause the block 13 and the post 14 attached thereto to move toward and away from the post 11, there is rotatably mounted in the base 10 a screw-threaded spindle 15. This spindle is held against movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis in the said base, its threads 16 meshing with those of a bore 17 in the block 13. A milled knob 18 is attached to the spindle 15, to facilitate the rotation thereof.

Upon the post 11 is mounted a block 19, slidable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the said post. Through this block extends a hole 20, corresponding in configuration to that of the cross-section of the post 11, whereby the said block is allowed to slide in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the said post, but is prevented from rotary motion thereon. A clamping screw 21 serves to hold the block on the said post in any desired position. To the block 19 is secured, or there may be made integral therewith, a curved member 22, extending toward the post 14:. The curvature of this member is such as to fit the back of a person in proximity of the hip bones;

On the post 14 is also mounted a block, denoted by the numeral 23, said block being slidable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the said post, and is held against ro tation thereon by being provided with a hole 24 of a configuration corresponding to that of the cross-section of the post 14. A clamping screw 23 serves to hold the block 23 in adjusted position. In this last-named block is formed a horizontal bore 25 of polygonal cross-section, into whichextends a similarly shaped lug 26 of acurved member 27, the latter projecting toward the curved member 22, and being shaped to fit the abdomen of a person. A spring 28 is disposed within the bore 25 and bears against a plate 14, in abutment With the post 14, and against a head 29 on the lug 26. This spring has a tendency to force the curved member 27 toward the member 22, the head 29 preventing disengagement of the member 27 from the block 23. In the block 23 is formed a vertically running circular aperture 30, through which extends a shaft 31' of, Jreferably, quadrangular cross-section, sa-i shaft being .mounted in bearings 32, that are carried by the post 14. The shaft 31 extends in parallel relation to the lastnamed post, and has slidably arranged thereon, above the block 23, .a pinion 33. W'iththis-pinion meshes a toothed segment 34, formed upon one end of a bell-crank lever 35, the latter being fulcrumed at 36 to the block 23. The other end of the bellcrank lever is fork-shaped, as clearly shown at 37; and in engagement with a pin 38 upon the curved member 27. To the upper end i of, the. shaft 31 is attached a flexible shaft 39, connected to a hand 40, that cooperates with a graduated scale 41 upon a dial 42. This dial is fixedly attached to the upper end of the post 14.

Upon the post 11 is furthermore adjustably mounted a block 43, by means of a clamping screw 44. This block carries electr1c contacts 45 and 46, the contact 45 being stationary and the contact46 movable. The movable contact is carried by a horizontally disposed plate 47, that is arranged at a conbring th sider'able distance abovethe curved member 22 above described. The two contact points are in an electric circuit 48, including a battery 49 and an incandescent lamp 50.

The operation of this device is as fol l.oWs:--The person, Whoserespiration is to be tested, steps upon the base 10 between the curved members 22 and 27 The block 19 is then shifted on the post 11 until the curved member 22 abuts against the back of the person in proximity of his hip bones. After this, the block 23 is shifted on the post l4 until the curved member 27 is brought 1n register with the abdomen of the person. The spindle 15' is then turned, to

e curved member 27 into contact with the abdomen, but without exerting undue pressure thereon. Finally, the block 43 is shifted until the plate 47 is almost in contact With the head of the person. If the respiration of the )erson is correct, during inspiration, the ab omen expands and forces the curved member 27, against the action of the spring 28, toward the post 14. Due to this motion, the bell-crank lever 35 is shifted around its fulcrum in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent the same in Fig. 2 of the drawings, giving the pinion 33. and the shaft 31 a partial turn. This movement causes the hand 40 to move in the proper direction, indicating on the scale 41 the extent of the inspiration. During; expiration, obviously, the elen'ients described move in opposite directions, the hand indicating the extent of the expiration. If the respiration is faulty, that is to say if the abdomencoir tracts during inspiration, the hand 40 Will, obviously, move in the opposite direction.

-The person, watching the movement ofthe hand 40, thus becomes aware-of the fact that the respiration is faulty and exercises until the desired result is obtained.

If the person, in singing or talking, raises the head, the movable point46 is caused to contact with the stationary contact point 45, thereby closing the normally open electric. circuit, with the result that the lamp 50Iis lighted, indicating incorrect posture of the head.

W'hat I claim.is:

1. A respiration indicator, comprising a base, a stationary vpost rising therefrom, a movable post on said base, means. for adj usting the'position of said movable post in relation to said stationary post, ti -member.

on said stationary post adaptedgto abut against the back of the person whose res piration is to be tested, a b ocknpon said movable post, a spring-pressed member adapted to abut against the abdomen of the person and-shiftably disposed upon said block, a graduated dial on said movable post, a hand coiiperating with said dial, and a gearing between said spring-pressed member and said hand,

A. respiration indicator, comprising-a base, a stationary postrising; therefrom, a movable post: on said base, means for ad justing the position-of said movable port in relation-to said stationary post, a member on said stationary post adapted toabut against the back ofthe per onw ese respiration is to be tbstedia block upon said movable post, a spring-pressed member adapted to abut againstthe abdomen of the person and .slii ftz'iblydisposed .upon said block, a graduated dial on saidmovable post, a hand cooperating with said"dial and a gearing between said spring pressed member and said hand, said member on said stationary post and said block on- .said:mov,

able post being adjustably mounted to fit persons of different heights.

3. A respiration indicator, comprising a base, a stationary post rising therefrom, a movable post on said base, means for adjusting the position of said movable post in relation to said stationary post, a member on said stationary post adapted to abut against the back of the person whose respiration is tobe tested, a block upon said movable post, a spring-pressed member adapted to abut against the abdomen of the person and ,shiftably disposed upon said block, a graduated dial on said movable post, a hand cooperating with said dial a shaft rotatably mounted on said movable post, a pinion on said shaft to rotate therewith, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said block and having upon one of its ends a toothed segment in mesh with said pinion, a pin upon said spring-pressed member operatively connected with said bell-crank 1ever, and a flexible shaft between said firstnamed shaftand said hand.

4:. A respiration indicator, comprising a base, a stationary post rising therefrom, a movable post on said base, means for adjusting the position of said movable post in relation to said stationary post, a member on said stationary post adapted to abut against the back of the person whose respiration is to be tested, a block upon said movable post, a spring-pressed member adapted to abut gainst the abdomen of the person and shiftably disposed upon said block, a graduated dial on said movable post, a hand coiiperating with said dial, a shaft rotatably mounted on said movable post, a pinion on said shaft to rotate therewith, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said block and having upon one of its ends a toothed segment in mesh with said pinion, a pin upon said spring-pressed member operatively connected with said bell-crank 1ever, and a flexible shaft between said firstnamed shaft and said hand, said block and the elements carried thereby being adjustably mounted on said movable post to fit persons of different heights.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 13th day of June, A. D. 1918.

BERTRAN D DE BERNYZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

